http://www.norduserforum.com/favicon.icoNord User ForumThis 'unofficial' Forum is dedicated to the Clavia Nord Keyboards, including the Nord Stage, Nord Electro and Nord Piano. Discuss any issues around Nord's keyboards, share your favorite patches, samples, and music. We are not affiliated with Clavia!2017-08-18T05:20:26+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/feed.php?f=29&t&mode2017-08-18T05:20:26+02:002017-08-18T05:20:26+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13667&p=88805#p88805

Rusty Mike wrote:For the mix of capabilities you described, you can consider a Stage 2EX. It will still be more flexible/powerful than the Electro 5

On the other hand, the Stage 2EX really falls short of the NE5D in its organ functionality... the organ sound itself, the rotary effect, the drawbars. And the OLED display functionality is nice, too.

]]>2017-08-17T19:58:16+02:002017-08-17T19:58:16+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13667&p=88788#p88788I recently pounced on a killer deal for a new NS2 EX Compact, as I had always wanted one to use for rehearsals and pick-up gigs. I'm very happy with it.

]]>2017-08-17T18:24:28+02:002017-08-17T18:24:28+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13667&p=88782#p88782That is, of course, unless you need some specific feature on the Stage 3 that the 2EX doesn't have.

]]>2017-08-17T17:30:17+02:002017-08-17T17:30:17+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88780#p88780Statistics: Posted by anotherscott — Yesterday, 17:30
]]>2017-08-17T16:36:24+02:002017-08-17T16:36:24+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88778#p88778Statistics: Posted by Quai34 — Yesterday, 16:36
]]>2017-08-17T16:32:09+02:002017-08-17T16:32:09+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13667&p=88777#p88777Statistics: Posted by Quai34 — Yesterday, 16:32
]]>2017-08-17T15:38:48+02:002017-08-17T15:38:48+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13667&p=88773#p88773But if you're not committed to having everything you need in one board (since you talked about adding pitch bend via a second keyboard), there are lots of things you can do with the combination of an NE5D and a second keyboard... maybe not everything an NS3 can do but also probably things the NS3 cannot do. And there are some other advantages to adding a second board to an NE5D, like the ability to have piano-action for piano sounds, more total real estate (you don't have to worry about the piano section of your piano-something split having enough keys for what you want to play), backup to get through a gig if a board fails (which is not simply a matter of reliability... boards can gets dropped, have something spilled into them, whatever).

True, but other kinds fall short by different amounts, and even some waterfalls are better than others (Roland VR700 and VK8, and Numa Organ 2, are some waterfalls that I like better than Nord's). Non-waterfall semi-weighted and unweighted actions are closer to waterfall in organ suitability than hammer actions are. And then, within hammer actions, some (like Nord's HA models, Kawai MP7, some of the Kurzweils), while not as good as any of the above, are still noticeably better for organ than other hammer actions. The HP actions are close to the bottom. That said, if your organ playing does not employ much in terms of organ-specific techniques, you can sometimes still manage just fine on pretty much anything. "Light My Fire" plays perfectly fine on a hammer action board.

]]>2017-08-17T14:35:13+02:002017-08-17T14:35:13+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13667&p=88770#p88770When I bought the Electro 3 the differences between that and the Stage were very clear. But with the 5D it's less so. It seems to me the primary difference now is the synth engine on the Stage, which I'm not sure I need. (And, you know, $1000 ) Am I missing something huge?

]]>2017-08-17T14:14:35+02:002017-08-17T14:14:35+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13642&p=88769#p88769Statistics: Posted by Leo Castro — Yesterday, 14:14
]]>2017-08-17T14:03:22+02:002017-08-17T14:03:22+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13642&p=88768#p88768I think that using mic inputs instead of line inputs would be better especially if you mixeur have good preamp on mic inputs.

I could read that some users of in-ears monitors used a microphone to hear sound and ambiance from the stage (in this case plugged into a mic input). Have you already tried this?

]]>2017-08-17T08:34:20+02:002017-08-17T08:34:20+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88760#p88760Or could work for fast synth parts but you really have to practice a lot your dexterity...And for Organ, nothing beats a waterfall keybed...

]]>2017-08-16T15:41:31+02:002017-08-16T15:41:31+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88735#p88735I think you'll be happier with one board optimized for piano parts, and the other optimized for organ/synth. Yes, you'll be schlepping two boards and a stand, but I bet you'll enjoy the playing experience more.

For example, my preferred rig is a Nord Piano 2 88 (40 lbs / 18 kg) and a Nord Electro 4D (featherweight). Synth samples get me through most parts, but I can't pitch bend or modulate. Fortunately, the music doesn't require it. While everyone has their opinions on piano actions, I've grown to like what I can do on the Nord Piano 2, and am not looking for an upgrade anytime soon.

If you go this way, I would highly recommend the Nord gig bag for the NP2. Well-placed handles make it very easy to lug it around.

I also own a Nord Stage 2 76. It is a heavy, awkward beast. The weighted action means that it's OK for piano parts, and a pain for everything else. I'll be selling it before long.

]]>2017-08-16T11:51:22+02:002017-08-16T11:51:22+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88726#p88726I own an Electro 3HP and find the action to be ok but a little noisy for playing on my own at home. I use a midi connection to my Roland RD 700 which has a much better piano action when I want to play classical piano.

I primarily got the HP action because I wanted a lightweight keyboard that I could satisfactorily play piano on occasionally at gigs but would mostly be used in a band setting. I am predominantly a piano player. Due to the midi capabilities I have at home and the low cost of the Stage 2ex I am now considering buying a Stage 2ex compact. I expect it to be horrible for playing classical piano on, but for playing in a band I suspect it will meet all my needs and more.

I'm not that picky, but if you are then you really should make sure that you try all the options in a store or get them on a trial/rental basis. There really is no substitute to trying yourself.

You should also consider that the stage has significantly more synth capability than the electro (which doesn't have a synth section - only sample playback with a few limited effects). Do you need and/or want this for now or the future?

]]>2017-08-15T15:33:22+02:002017-08-15T15:33:22+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88699#p88699For comparison I also have a Yamaha CP4 which has an excellent weighted realistic piano action and the HP keybed has a 'lighter' feel to it. That said I have warmed to the HP lots and do still love to play on it. Its effortless whilst still giving feedback and for my style of playing it seems to work very well.

]]>2017-08-15T03:51:25+02:002017-08-15T03:49:33+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88682#p88682I'm sure Nord sells a lot of HP instruments, or they would stop producing them. That must say something.

For what it's worth, I did a small gig with my Electro 4D (SW action) last week, and had a real hard time playing the AP sounds. It worked fine for EP and, of course, organ.

You are going to find people on both sides. Instead of listening to the opinions of a few of us, your best bet is trying it out yourself.

esmeeg wrote:I've read mixed reviews of the HP action, so i'm unsure if its a good action for piano, and thats my main priority I think - I'd compromise organ and synth for that.

The HP action is better suited for piano than it is for organ/synth. That said, that doesn't necessarily mean its especially good even for piano. It's somewhat subjective, but most people would say that the HA action is much better for piano than the HP. The HP is generally not great for anything except keeping the travel weight down. But for piano, most people would say that, even if it's not great, it's better than the SW.

HokieKev wrote:The Nord5 had what I thought was a fairly typical Synth action. They call the keys semi-weighted but there is not much weight there.

The terminology does confuse things a bit. The difference between Nord's semi-weighted and "fully" weighted actions isn't really about the weight, it's about whether there is a hammer mechanism or not, which is the thing that makes it feel more like a piano.

]]>2017-08-15T00:21:20+02:002017-08-15T00:21:20+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88674#p88674The Nord5 had what I thought was a fairly typical Synth action. They call the keys semi-weighted but there is not much weight there. I found the Nord Stage 2 EX HP keys to be kind of "bouncy". I immediately did not like it. But there was a guy I was chatting with that really had some chops and he played it and said - "hm, kind of bouncy - I like it". So, really, it seems pretty subjective. Some people can like a particular action or not. It seems you really need to play it yourself to be certain whether you are going to like it.

The Nord Piano 3 seemed to me to have the action that was closest to a real piano - I guess, as one would expect. I was looking at the Nord Stage 3 myself and trying to decide if I want to lug the 41.8 pounds around. And I need to measure my car to see how easily I could fit the keyboard in. I currently have an old Kurzweil PC3x that ways 55 pounds. So, hey, that is a 13 pound weight reduction for me. I'd keep the Kurzweil as a "backup" probably.

]]>2017-08-14T18:14:34+02:002017-08-14T18:14:19+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13659&p=88662#p88662I'm about to order a nord keyboard but am unsure what the best fit for me would be. Unfortunately my local music store is pretty limited so I was only able to try an Electro 5 SW. I mainly play piano (both classical and rock) but also play in bands where I need organ and synth. I've been playing an Electro 5 SW73 for the past week and I do really like it, minus the action, and think that I probably could deal with the limited synth options.

I was originally thinking the NS2 88 would be best, but for gigging I'm a little scared to lug it around (I live on the third floor, no elevator). I've read mixed reviews of the HP action, so i'm unsure if its a good action for piano, and thats my main priority I think - I'd compromise organ and synth for that. The portability of the HP is nice as well, and it would also allow me to get a 73 or 76 that would fit better in my car.

So my main question is: which nord should I get? NS2 HA88, NS2 HP76 or Electro HP76?? Is the HP action bad for piano?

]]>2017-08-13T00:25:06+02:002017-08-12T03:05:33+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13605&p=88579#p88579According to the manual of the XK5, 'Glide' can be controlled with MIDI CC#49, and on the NE5, CC#49 is used for 'set list slot select', the NE5 also sends these CC#49 messages when you change the slot. Therefore changing the slot on your NE5 changes the Slide parameter on your XK5. You can stop the NE5 from sending CC's altogether, by selecting 'off' or 'receive' in the 'control change mode' item in the MIDI menu. But if you're controlling the XK5 with pedals etc that are connected to the NE5, your solution is probably the easiest.

CC = 'Control Change', a way to control certain parameters of an instrument via MIDI. There are 128 CC's, CC#0 to CC#127 that a manufactorer can assign to all sorts of parameters. There is sort of a standard for a few commonly used parameters, like pitch shift (not in use on NE5), level, pan, expression, sustain, etc. https://www.midi.org/specifications/ite ... ta-bytes-2 However, each instrument model also has it's own unique parameters that the manufacturer might want to make controllable with CC's. With limited CC's available and so many different keyboards, it's impossible to standardise this any further. Usually there is a list of which CC's are used for what parameters in the manual of your instrument. If you are connecting 2 keyboards with each other thru MIDI, you can compare these lists to check for any overlaps, . Cheers, Albert

]]>2017-08-11T22:15:40+02:002017-08-11T22:08:32+02:00http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13642&p=88574#p88574I am starting to use in-ears for live monitoring. I am using NS2 outputs 1 and 2 to send to FOH in stereo. Since many times the mix sent for stage monitoring is in mono and I hate NS2 piano in mono, I am using a small mixer to control the mix between the feed that sends FOH (without my keyboard sound) and my keyboard sound. I send the latter to my small personal mixer using the headphone output (using a stereo to 2 mono cable).

My question is: I am connecting the stereo cable of the headphone output to the personal mixer in a stereo channel without Gain control, in Line 3/4 of the below, since I am using Line 1 and 2 for receiving sound from FOH. It sounds OK. I was wondering whether I would benefit from having 4 channels with gain control, so that I could connect the headphone output to my mixer using channels with Gain. I have been testing how the sound changes between Lines 1 and 2 (panning them left-right) and 3/4, and I perceive a very slight difference. Hence, I was wondering whether there is any advantage in monitoring the headphone output through them?

kbrkr wrote:I've checked every FA-06 and FA-07 video and it really looks like a dynamite keyboard. There are some concerns, however;. . .And lastly, it does not have Aftertouch. I know it's only $1,500.00 but a tradeoff is a tradeoff.

The FA-07 page on Musicians Friend has this under the "Specifications" section: